Land of Darkness

[Raeghan]

She gasped as the Arc of Fire was taken from her possession, the sudden absence of the chaotic element overwhelming. Her lungs struggled to take in air as she dropped down to both knees, clutching at her chest with her free hand. She had held the Arc for all but seven days since the reclamation and her body was simply used to the flux of energy. Raeghan recovered quickly, however, and by the time she could glance up at Sitherack she could feel the very earth slip from beneath her.

The darkness itself wasn’t a bother to her; it was as though she was within the earth. Beyond that, the feeling was utterly revolting. She felt her stomach rise and fall and it felt as though she had spun around in circles hundreds upon hundreds of times. No matter how hard she clenched her eyes or forced her will through the Arc, the feeling would not go away; it was maddening. Just as she thought she could take no more Raeghan felt as though her entire body had all of a sudden been encased in a block of ice.

Her grip on the Arc of Earth tightened as she began to feel certain weightlessness within the Darkness Well, and soon it became almost soothing. Like she was being embraced and cradled by the mother she never had, Raeghan began to relax within the Well. She pulled the Arc of Earth inward towards her chest as she stretched out, suspended within the blackness. A soft smile spread over he face as she drifted from thought.

Time ripped her back to reality as she half-choked, her eyes flashing open suddenly. She was used to awaking deep within the earth, not in some foreign substance. Gasping, Raeghan realized where she was and struggled to find her way from the blackness. She felt around the slick walls and soon found what she sought. Hesitantly she emerged from the darkness, the Arc of Earth held tightly in her right hand.

Raeghan felt different somehow. The overwhelming sensation of the darkness around her was something that she was not used too. She could feel the power like she could the fires of Tre Betal. But this was a different kind of power. It was something more sinister. A slight smirk spread over her face as her eyes lifted to Sitherack, leaning slightly against the Arc of Earth.

[Sitherack's Soul]

Sitherack was pleased with the corruption of Raeghan, it had proceeded without any difficulties, eased by her lack of resistance to the process she would have gained more power than had she fought it. Her new powers didn't concern him any, by adding darkness to her and binding it to her soul, it gave him complete control over her should he choose to exert it. His whims could become uncontrollable compulsions for her. However it was just a form of insurance for him.

He proceeded with the process of corrupting the Arc of Fire next, it consisted of immersing it in the Dark Well, taming the flame with darkness, and then merging the essence of the Arc directly into his Armor. When he was done the sword itself was no longer visible, but the air around him shimmered with heat it was unbearable for anyone to really get within a few feet of him, flammable things would burst into flames, skin would blister and blacken, the sand he would walk on would melt into glass footprints. Needless to say a stroll through the Dryad Wood would have to be on his list of things to do in the near future.

Within seconds of finishing the Light in the world seemed to dim slightly, all Arcs that produced non magical Light had been corrupted by darkness. Night would now last twice as long, the days would shortened to half their current length. The brightest the would would get would be when the light was at an early dusk.

He strapped on the corrupted Arc's of Light and Lightning on either hip, both weapons shimmering with untold power when the Arc of Lightning flickered warningly. He knew the warning, it cried out in every inch of his soul. Something was manipulating Lightning in the world, something fairly powerful. It was obvious to him that his brother was up and about, undoubtedly stirred by the events he had put into motion and planning some feeble strike back, likely with his pet bird, that wretched mage and the cursed shadow hybrid.

As soon as the thought had completed itself he dropped to his knees in agony. The Arc of Darkness had sent a jolt through his body in the form of a surge of energy so immense even he couldn't handle it all right away. His eyes watered from the pain though one couldn't really see, he groaned and clutched his head. It lasted only a few seconds before he could get the stream of power under control, and when he gathered his wits about him again he probed gently at the Arc and the surrounding darkness. What he found filled him with rage beyond comprehension. The heat from the Arc of Fire responded to his rage, and flames burst around him, the marble under his feet began to slag and turn molten as he got to his feet. He turned and stormed towards the entrance to the temple and stood staring at the sky for several seconds trembling with fury.

“How dare you Lasius, they will write epics of the suffering I will put you through today.” The words were but a whisper, almost inaudible, but if Raeghan were listening hard enough she could have heard them. He turned in her direction and spoke in harsh clipped tones. “The war begins today, they have struck the first blow. We will strike back. You are to go to Cyrida and level it to the ground. I don't expect so much as a hovel to remain standing. And leave no survivors. I'll take care of Lasius myself.”

He turned and vanished in a flash of obsidian Lightning.

(to be continued in "Into the Abyss")